1 Corinthians 11:3-5
Amplified Bible
3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head (authority over) of every man, and man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ. 4 Every man who prays or [a]prophesies with something on his head dishonors his head [and the One who is his head]. 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies when she has her [b]head uncovered disgraces her head; for she is one and the same as the [c]woman whose head is shaved [in disgrace].
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Corinthians 11:4 The references to men or women prophesying (here and v 5) indicate that Paul has church meetings in mind, where the speaker is leading the congregation in prayer or addressing them.
- 1 Corinthians 11:5 In public, respectable women wore their hair done up in a modest style. In the Greco-Roman-Jewish culture of the time, hair worn down and loose would suggest a woman of questionable morals.
- 1 Corinthians 11:5 Possibly the mark of an adulteress or prostitute, but likely a sign of disgrace for any number of reasons. In one of Aristophanes’ comedies, for example, head shaving is recommended for a woman whose son is cowardly or otherwise worthless.
1 Corinthians 11:3-5
New International Version
3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ,(A) and the head of the woman is man,[a](B) and the head of Christ is God.(C) 4 Every man who prays or prophesies(D) with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies(E) with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.(F)
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 11:3 Or of the wife is her husband
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.